Ryan Bjorn
Field Superintendent // Gilette Stadium
2025 Class of Pioneers in the Field

It only takes a spark, a moment so small it might go unnoticed, to ignite a lifelong passion. For some that spark might be a song on the radio or a chance encounter. For Ryan Bjorn, Field Superintendent for Gillette Stadium, that spark came in the form of a Fenway park field design.

His childhood love for the Boston Red Sox quietly sowed the seeds of a future he couldn’t yet imagine. What began as awe as a fan would, years later, evolve into a career spent crafting the very fields where stories like these begin.

Ryan Bjorn grew up in Old Town, Maine with a love for Boston sports teams. When the crew at Fenway Park etched the legendary Ted Williams’ number into the outfield in memoriam, this caught Ryan’s eye. This sparked a curiosity in Ryan because it was his first exposure to the craftsmanship behind sports and he thought, “I could do that”.

 Ryan wasted no time. With his family’s 21 inch lawn mower, he attempted to put the number nine into his own backyard, successfully scalping the grass. A story his mother loves to tell, now serves as the spark that started it all.

Ryan initially started his pursuit at Vermont Technical College with dreams of one day owning a landscape company with a friend. While enrolled, he attended a New England Grows conference where Dave Mellor, Fenway Park Head Groundskeeper, was giving a keynote.

Ryan’s spark from when he was a child became a burning flame. Ryan would go on to transfer to the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at University of Massachusetts Amherst and dive in head first into the world of sports turf.

Ryan said, “attending Dave Mellor’s keynote really opened my eyes to the world of turf beyond golf, and I really never looked back.”

That dream was put into motion throughout Ryan’s undergrad studies at UMass. Over the weekends and summers Ryan and his friends would drive to Boston to work on the game day crew at Fenway Park. What started as curiosity had grown into passion, and that passion was fed by the mentors and peers he met along the way: Rick Perruzzi, Weston Appelfeller, Jason Griffiths, and Dave Mellor. Ryan said there were too many to count, but he credits everyone who was patient in their teachings, inclusive in their leadership and empowering in their support for his incredible foundation in the industry.

"I first got to know Ryan when he was 21 years old, he came to us as someone looking to spend the summer close to home after working at Fenway, and he immediately blended in with the crew. His work ethic and determination were something every manager hopes for in an employee—and he exceeded those expectations. The one thing I can say about Ryan is that he’s genuine, both personally and professionally. He stays grounded and never forgets where he came from. I’m proud to call him a friend and colleague."

Rick Perruzzi, City of South Portland

These relationships, and the trust that came with them, continued to shape Ryan’s journey. His next big step came when he moved to Maryland to work with Jerad Minnick at the Maryland SoccerPlex. The role stretched him in new ways.

Ryan reflected on his almost nine years in Maryland as a transformative time in his life. The learning experience was expansive, with the magnitude of acreage and user groups the SoccerPlex serviced.

Ryan said, “talk about a facility… It's parks and rec, but we maintained fields at an elite level. We often had to get creative with how to deal with situations and my boss, Jerad, was really good about not being afraid to try new things. He created a culture where as his employee, we all felt empowered to be creative and come up with new ideas to address our challenges. And if it didn’t work out, no loss, just try something different. I’ve definitely tried to incorporate that into my management style and how we take care of our grass here in New England.”  

"I knew early on in my time at Fenway that Ryan was incredible. When I returned as assistant in 2008, Ryan had already completed his internship and had more experience than I did. He was easy to rely on and a jack of all trades—always professional, always solid. And as a friend? Everyone should know Ryan rarely answers his phone, but when he calls you back, it’s a treat. A highlight of any day. He’s an incredible person and one of the best humans I’ve ever met."

Weston Appelfeller, FIFA

Not all Ryan’s meaningful moments in Maryland happened on the field. During his time at the SoccerPlex, Ryan met his now wife, Alexis, who worked at the driving range down the road from his maintenance shop.

Ryan said, “I’m a big believer in everything happens for a reason, moving down to Maryland was the catalyst for meeting my wife. We always joke that the best I ever got at golf was during the time when I was trying to get her number, because I was at the driving range every single day.”

Since becoming a team, Ryan said Alexis has truly been the MVP. When the call opportunity came to leave Maryland and return home for a gig at Gillette Stadium, Ryan says it was his wife’s willingness and understanding that opportunities like this don’t come up very often that helped them make the move.

“I owe everything to her because she uprooted her life and left family to come here. I'm incredibly grateful that she was willing to take the leap with me. She’s the rock, I can tell you right now that I wouldn’t be able to do what I do without her.” 

That grounding support has helped Ryan thrive in Foxborough as the Field Superintendent. At Gillette, he’s not just focused on maintaining elite surfaces for the New England Patriots and Revolution, he’s also driven by the power of creating lasting memories for others.

“One of my favorite things to do, and something I try to preach to our staff, is bring people in to see the stadium,” he said. “Whether it’s family, a friend, or a colleague with kids who love soccer or football, get them out here and let them run around the field. We lose that a little bit when we’re here every day, it’s just work. But for so many, this might be the only time they’ll ever see a game here. It means everything to them.”

Ryan sees it as a privilege to help create that moment of awe. “We get to present that product, have them walk up the steps, come through the tunnel, and see the crisp lines, ‘Elvis’ in the middle of the field. Whatever it is, we want that experience to be incredible for them. That’s a big one for me. I make myself think about that as much as possible, and remind myself of those moments.” 

That sense of wonder is something Ryan hopes to pass on. Whether it's a young fan inspired by a field design or a crew member learning what great leadership looks like, Ryan wants to be part of sparking the next chapter in someone else’s story, just like others did for him.

“It’s pretty simple,” Ryan said. “I really hope at the end of the day people enjoyed their time working with me. I hope their experience was something they can be proud of and that it helps them reach their next goal. While it’s nice to have staff stick around for a long time, my mentors always prepared me for that next step, and I hope to do the same for others. I wouldn’t be where I am today if my managers hadn’t empowered me to move forward. One day, I’d love to retire and see a bunch of people I’ve worked with leading their own teams, building inclusive, collaborative environments. That’s the kind of legacy I want to leave.”

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